abstractborders | FOR THE PUPPY

FOR THE PUPPY

[He's alive.

A part of him was furious that Rufus had waited as long as he did to tell him. How long had it been? How many times had Cloud blamed himself--once he'd gotten his head straightened out that is--for the death of someone he had looked up to, admired...cared about more than he had realized at the time? But another part of him was just...well. What was the word for it? Cloud really had no idea how to put into words what he was feeling as he let the realization that Zack was alive sink in and all he could do was demand to see the other man.

He left the church without any hesitation once he'd been given a location, only pausing long enough to tell Tifa that he had someone he needed to go see and would be back eventually. The children were too busy celebrating to realize he was gone and the rest of Avalanche were in much the same state of celebration--minus Vincent but he always just seemed to know things so Cloud didn't even bother. His bike was fired up and he took off, driving to the outskirts of Edge, in an area that most rarely ventured into. It was Tseng that he saw first and Cloud gave the other only the slightest of nods--glad to at least see him alive after everything that had happened--before he was making his way inside. There was another person present as well, a young woman that Cloud had only ever met in passing but she just gave him a smile and a nod before she was stepping outside to join Tseng.

Which left Cloud alone in the room with a man he had thought for years to be dead. A man that he had missed more than he knew how to put into words.

He tried to speak, tried to say something but his voice cut out on him and his expression started to crumble as he blinked back tears, something that caused surprise to flicker across his face.

Look what you did Zack. You made the chocobo cry.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ he'd love to say that it's not his fault that no one said anything to Cloud. but in the end, it's really not. Zack would have liked to do nothing else but track the blonde down once he had been stable enough to do so. but... that's not how things worked out.

besides. Zack couldn't have been prouder of Cloud anyway. he always knew the kid had been something else. one of the people that had saved them all... yeah. who WOULDN'T be proud of that? Zack's practically all warm and fuzzy inside because of it.

it's tense in the room now. Zack just sort of waits for Cloud to say something. anything. instead Fair realizes, belatedly, what's going to happen instead. there's no way that he can deal with tears - it's awkward enough without that. thus he pushes himself off of the chair with a bit of a sigh before crossing the remaining distance. gently, a hand lands on those chocobo yellow tuffs of hair. ]

Looking pretty good there, Cloud.

[That response, those words, are just so Zack that Cloud finds himself caught between a laugh and a broken sob. His hand is ducked thanks to the hand in his hair and he closes his eyes to try and hold back the tears threatening to fall.]

Could say the same about you, Zack.

[His voice doesn't even sound like his own it's so weak, so broken, and it takes him a moment to actually look up again. There's a watery smile trying to work it's way onto his lips but it's a bit of a struggle. There's still so much that's fresh in his mind right now, so much that's happened and battling Sephiroth again--

This was just the icing on the cake.

A hand lifts to pull Zack's from his hair and give him more room to move forward and embrace the other, face pressed into his shoulder.]

[ it's all right. Zack is doing his best to give Cloud a moment to get a hold of himself. who in their right mind wants to be a weepy mess in front of a long lost friend?

though hearing the other speak isn't what he's come to expect. that voice that had been so strong, so full of dreams and life... what Zack hears takes a little stab at his heart. it sounds wrong. ]

Of course. I always look good. It's okay to be jealous if you want.

[ levity is the only way to deal with the situation, isn't it? Zack knows this is pretty serious and he's not making light of it, not really. the moment that Cloud's face is in his shoulder, Zack just wants to fix it. it's not too late for that, is it? ]

Shoulda left to hunt you down. Sorry, bud.

[The most Cloud can do is snort softly in response to that quip, refusing to lift his head; refusing to attempt to use his voice. He doesn't trust it at the moment and needs a few minutes to really get himself pulled back together.

But Zack, you really aren't making it easy.]

No, you--it was better that you didn't. [He had no idea how long it had taken Zack to fully recover and he wouldn't have wanted the other to make things worse for himself by hunting Cloud down.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, the blonde finally pulls back a bit though his gaze stays averted.]

...How?

[How are you here, Zack? How did they save you?]

[ he's not the best at making things easy! especially when he starts to give little back pats. there, there Cloud. let it go all out. ]

You think so? 'Cause I dunno. I'm feeling a little responsible here.

[ of course that's the moment that Cloud naturally steps back. Zack rubs the back of his own neck. awkwardly. the question that of course Cloud's going to ask. the question that Zack really doesn't want to answer. ]

How what? How can I still be this good looking? Well, I can tell you, but it'll cost ya.

What exactly were you going to do? Hobble threateningly at people?

[It comes out lacking the usual bite he'd attach to such a statement but the gist is still there. Who knows what those injuries had done to him in the long run. Even though it had been quite a while, something like what Zack had been through left people with lasting damage, right?

A soft frown touches his lips, the blonde looking momentarily exasperated despite how distraught he still feels.]

Zack..

[ scoff ]

I could do more than that I bet.

[ probably not. From what he had come to understand it took all hands on deck to bring him back from the brink of death. In the next moment, Zack realizes that the joking comment hadn't been appreciated. With a sigh, he resigns himself to just talk. ]

To be honest? I'm not sure. All that science stuff is beyond me. From what I heard I was a downright mess.

[Cloud just snorts softly again, shaking his head some. At least the other's personality was still there; still Zack.]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[He's quiet for a moment even after the other man finally gives him a real answer, that frown lingering as he glances down at the floor.]

ShinRa then?

Don't say things you don't mean, kiddo.

[ because naw. no one really wants to see that. Zack doesn't want to have that many holes in him ever again.

what he can't handle is that downtrodden look Cloud's got going on. thus Zack ruffles that blonde head, soon after tapping a chin to get him to look up. ]

Not officially. If you hadn't noticed, most of the people here are Turks.

[..Yeah, no. He's okay with Zack being whole, thank you very much.

A sort of offended noise leaves the blonde as his hair is ruffled and he had already started to look up when his chin is tapped. That exasperated look changes into something more thoughtful though his lips still turn down in the ghost of a frown.]

It's hard not to notice.

[No offense, Turks.]

So how did they manage...this. You? If it's been under wraps...

[The science department had to be involved right? God he doesn't like the idea of that, though.]

I've always had a pretty good working relationship with 'em. [ small shrug. okay maybe not the BEST, but he got along with them well enough. Cissnei is an exception, naturally. ] In fact, you should probably thank Cissnei when you get the chance.

[ Zack folds his arms with that little frown. yeah, he's not exactly big on the whole science department. not with Hojo running the show at least. ]

I guess people don't question what the Turks are doing or where Rufus personal interests lay. [ shrug. ] Hojo wasn't involved and that, really, is all I cared to know.

Better than the rest of us. [It comes out a bit dryly but he really isn't a huge fan of the Turks. Sure, their relationship has been better in the past year or so but...still. Most of them are just frustrating.] Cissnei? Why?

[She must have been the one to find Zack initially.

When Zack confirms that Hojo wasn't involved Cloud visibly relaxes, nodding.]

Good. At least they were smart about it. [His gaze sweeps over his friend again now that he's more at ease with things and for a moment he can't help but feel like maybe this isn't real. Maybe he's just hallucinating again.] ...What...how much do you know. About everything.

[Sephiroth. Aerith. Meteorfall. Geostigma.]

She helped us back when you weren't even really conscious. It's only because she gave me her keys that we were able to actually get anywhere to start with.

[ so yeah. they all owe her one here. the Turks might have gotten to him late, but not quite too late. so, in the end, Zack owes them all one.

his position shifts again, not really able to stand still. Zack's been getting more and more restless. mostly because of everything that's been going on. he locks his hands behind his head, biting the inside of his cheek in thought before speaking. ]

I know enough that you definitely outdid me on the whole 'hero' thing. Cissnei and Tseng told me a lot. [ frown. ] Mostly after everything was already over.

[ his expression falls for a moment. ]

Aerith helped out a lot too, huh? It would have been nice to at least have been able to see her. To say good bye if nothing else.

[There was still a lot about that whole time that Cloud didn't remember. A good majority of it had come back but there were holes. A lot of them. And what Zack was telling him definitely fell into those holes.]

...If I get the chance to, I will.

[He knew how to give gratitude where it was deserved.

Cloud watches the other's movements and it's just another reminder of how much he'd missed the other. Missed those small tells and the way Zack's body spoke volumes all on it's own.]

It was better that way. [He would never have forgiven himself if Zack had appeared only to be hurt in everything that went on.

The blonde's expression falters and sadness swims into his eyes before he's glancing away.] ..She did. More than I ever got to tell her.

[ well that's not really... argh. one step forward and two back. Cloud, kind of like himself, kind of let guilt eat at him, huh? the only difference is that Zack sees it for what it is and doesn't wallow in it, but presses on. ]

I'm sure she knows and doesn't blame anyone. She's always been the type of person that, once her mind is made up, that's the end of it. So, if I were you, I wouldn't beat myself up over it. 'Cause I know that's what you're doing.

[...Damn you, Zack.

The blonde frowns slightly, a weak frown but it's there all the same.]

I know she wouldn't--doesn't...it's one of the things I'm still working on. [One of the things he's still coming to terms with.]

[ yes. damn him all you want, Cloud.

he slaps an arm around Cloud's shoulders. ]

Then it's a good thing that I plan on sticking around. Got to make sure you don't forget to keep working on it.

[Cloud blinks.]

You're going to stay?

[He'd just assumed the other was going to maybe go home first or something. Get away from all of this and the memories everything held.]

Are you saying you don't want me to?

[ awww. listen to the ~~totally fake~~ hurt in his voice! ]

I never said that!

[It comes out faster than he meant for it to, the blonde looking momentarily miffed at himself.]

I just..I wasn't sure if you would stay here or go..back home first.

I won't lie... It'd be great to go back home. My folks are safe and they really aren't the ones that need me right now.

[ excuse him for a moment. Zack kind of knocks his forehead against Cloud's for a moment. he sort of needs for the next words he intends to say to sink in. this is the only way that Cloud won't look away.

cause Zack won't let him. ]

You're the only important person that I managed to actually save back then. Everyone else I cared about, I couldn't do a thing for. And from the looks of it, my job isn't really done. So, screw all this waiting. Where you go, I go.

[He wants to protest, to reassure the other that they'll be fine and he can go see his family--

But then Zack's forehead is against his and Cloud can't look away--damn you--and he feels...

His emotions are a tangled mess all of a sudden, that's what they are. There's a softness in his eyes that Cloud couldn't find a word for even if he wanted to and a slight downturn to his lips that indicates he may have a protest. But the most telling thing is probably the way his hands twitch at his sides like he wants to reach for Zack.]

...It's not always pleasant.

[ his parents long thought him dead. coming back now... would it really be better for them?

Cloud isn't allowed to protest. and Zack might not know what those twitchy fingers are for, but Zack's grin finds a way onto his face. ]

You really think that matters?

It's a warning that needs to be given.

[His life would always be in some sort of disarray. Cloud just accepted that. And if he could keep others from having to suffer that sort of fate, he would.

But he also knew how stubborn Zack could be.]

I don't..want you to feel like you have to, either.

Same warning could be given for me, you know. People around me haven't had the best of luck.

[ yes, he knows where Cloud is going with that. Zack is going to shut that down. ]

If anything, you might have gotten that from me.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject